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Water for all (clean drinking water)

Water is one of the most valuable blessings bestowed upon us by Allah Almighty. Water is central to the growth of life and no life can be imagined without it. It is valuable gift of Nature and is one of the fundamental contributory factors to the existence of life on the face of earth. 3/4 portion of our earth is composed of water and every country acknowledges its importance. According to experts, 4 gallons of water are required for every human being. According to international standard, there is a need of 50 cubic meters per person annually or 30 gallon of water per person. The provision of this much water is possible in urban areas but in the rural areas, getting even one gallon of clean water person is next to impossible. Women have to travel long distances for water in desert and rocky areas. Due to invading human beings and animals over fountains, the water becomes polluted and causes many diseases. This includes diseases related with abdomen, kidneys and skin etc. One characteristic of water is its being solvable as a result of which it becomes polluted in no time. The news regarding adulteration of a poison called 'sankhia' with underwater in the interior of Punjab of Sind are also disturbing. The quantity of 10 microgram 'sankhia' in one liter water causes cancer. The diseases born out of water and cleanliness are the basis of 60% deaths of children in Pakistan. According to an estimate, 80% of our diseases originate from the use of defective water.

In South-West countries, the phenomenon of cancer is caused by ruination of rocks and melting of mineral components. But this ratio of poisonous pollution is on the rise because of absorption of industrial waste by the soil. The adulteration of industrial waste and pesticides etc with water has rendered it unusable. Keeping in view the havoc caused by the 'Katrina' in US and 'Tsunami' in Asia, the importance and utility of clean water has increased manifold warranting timely and quick response.

If one the one hand, the climatic changes caused shortage of water, it also caused migration of human beings on the other leaving the human settlements deserted. On the basis of scientific progress, the use of mineral resources from the innermost recesses of soil has become possible through various tools in the modern age. But at the same time, the reality has also dawned upon us the fact that reservoirs of water underneath soil are very limited and are intact by a system of balance. Last eight years have seen an increase in the urban population of Pakistan by 10% to 12%. The ratio of increase in water in the urban areas is more than that. According to international standard, the urban areas need 50 cubic meters of water per head annually or 30 gallon per head on daily basis.

More than half of Pakistani population is deprived of clean drinking water
today. Unclean water is available for drinking at most of the places giving
birth to fatal diseases. Given this growing need of clean drinking water, Minhaj
Welfare Foundation has started project for availability of clean water. Under
this project, 500 large water pumps and more than 4000 small water pumps have
been installed. Each large water pump costs Rs. 50,000 whereas small water
pump costs Rs. 18,000. These water pumps have been monitored by Global
Positioning System (GPS). The water pump installation campaign has covered
following districts: